Publisher's Summary

In his stunning memoir, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins detailed his former role as an "hit man" operating within the international corporate skullduggery of a de facto American Empire. That riveting, behind-the-scenes exposé unfolded like a cinematic blockbuster told through the eyes of a man who once helped shape that empire.

Now, in The Secret History of the American Empire, Perkins zeroes in on hot spots around the world and, drawing on interviews with other hit men, jackals, reporters, and activists, examines the current geopolitical crisis. Instability is the norm; it's clear that the world we've created is dangerous and no longer sustainable. How did we get here? Who's responsible? What good have we done and at what cost? And what can we do to change things for the next generations? Addressing these questions and more, Perkins reveals the secret history behind the events that have created the American Empire.

From the U.S. military in Iraq to infrastructure development in Indonesia, from Peace Corps volunteers in Africa to jackals in Venezuela, Perkins exposes a conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe. Alarming yet hopeful, this book provides a compassionate plan for reimagining our world.

What the Critics Say

"A sweeping, bold assault on the tyranny of corporate globalization, full of drama and adventure, with devastating stories of greed run wild. But Perkins is undaunted, and offers imaginative ideas for a different world." (Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States)

I found this book a fascinating sequel to John Perkins "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man." "Secret History" includes more detailed information about the whys and hows of the urgent need to challenge the drift of modern life. (I liked the reader, too. He did a great job,subtly and miraculously assuming several foreign accents-CORRECTLY!)

Rather than bestsellers on how to manipulate the modern US lifestyle to best achieve Hedon, narcissistic, material comfort and that relegate those who don't aspire to such as "losers," this book deals with the scary side of realness.

Perkins presents fascinating insights into the mentality of other EHM's (many who seem to have sought him out after his first book came out)whose consciences are throbbing. Though Perkins presents some titillating insights into lives of the rich and powerful -like the parts about geishas--it's clear that's never the underlying point. His analysis always comes down on the side of the historical underdog. He also points out how the exploited are not unaware of their plight, and often see the bigger picture faster and clearer than those who are living the privileged life on a daily basis. I like how he included historical anecdotes to connect present with past.

Perkins gives a few suggestions for action that I personally found useful, and have followed up on. I felt hopeless after reading "Confessions." After "Secret History" I realized that powerful men engaged in destructive decision-making will at very least sometimes listen to other men they think they respect, and who may be able to successfully present them with either new perceptions, or with more real assessments of their impact. I think Riane Eisler' new book about broadening the definition of the current concept of "economics" would compliment this book well.

I hope for more from John Perkins! And I hope more like him will write the hidden histories that account for the mess we are in.

24 of 29 people found this review helpful

Michael

Bayside, NY, USA

17/02/09

Overall

"A good read"

The first part of the book is basically a rehash of "Confessions.." with a tad more detail. Nonetheless, its a good read and important documentation of our true history.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Christina

Dover plains, NY, United States

6/08/10

Overall

"Somewhat repititious of economic hitman"

As with his other books Perkins discribes how uncontrolled corporate power backed up by CIA and military have created an economic empire. Repeats many of the themes of confessions of an economic hitman. Whats new here is suggestion about what we can do to change the ssytem and what has been done by NGO's etc. I think Oliver Stone could combine the books and make a worthwhile movie.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ellen

Kansas City, MO, United States

2/03/09

Overall

"Life-changing"

One of the best books I ever listened to, even though it is not about mellifluous prose or any literary devices. It is even better than Confessions of an Economic Hitman. Read this today and get your eyes opened. Once you know what really goes on you can not go back to your illusions.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Chi-Hung

Riverside, CA, USA

23/11/09

Overall

"Interesting but poorly substentiated"

As a left leaning liberal, I found this book interesting, there are some truth in the book, such as the negative effect of US agricultural subsidy on African farmers and the length US goes to for national interest, however, the book ran away with accusation with clandestine operations that made James Bonds seem like angels of moderation. I agree with his moral conclusion, but for a academic polemic, it needs more substantiated proof.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Benedict

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, United States

4/07/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good enough but ... listen to Confessions first"

This books seems like a rewrite of Confessions of an Economic Hitman.

I highly recommend that book over this. Confessions of an Economic Hitman is one of the most important books ever written to explain how the world really, really works.

The author is one of the guys who really did the stuff that makes other nations refer to us as "Damn Yankees." Author Perkins had his feet on the ground and tells us the words and daily activities he used to break the economies of many contries around the world.

He was there during the Arab Embargo in the early 1970s and was helpful in solving that problem. The solution is astonishing even today.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jerry

North Brunswick, NJ, United States

21/02/10

Overall

"Eye opening, exciting, outstanding, and SAD"

Everyone in America should read this book. Changed the way I fundamentally looked at things. Whether your conservative or liberal this book has value to what America has been and may be.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Elton

Los angeles, CA, United States

2/08/07

Overall

"Nothing New"

I am not exactly sure why Mr. Perkins found it necessary to write this volume. His Economic Hitman book pretty much covered everything he talked about here. There was a spattering of additions from a couple of outside people, whom are rarely, if ever, identified. There are a couple of extra stories, but if you read/listened to his previous book you are not much surprised by anything offered here.
One tip though, high class Filipino prostitutes in Indonesia are not geisha...they may call themselves geisha, but they are better explained as high class prostitutes. My friends here in Japan were quite confused when I talked to them about that passage.

13 of 21 people found this review helpful

Steve White

1/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"So much left leaning jargon!"

There is a lot of interesting information in this book. It seems as though there was only corruption on the right and the left were the heroes, but science has already proVen so much of his environmental points have been debunked. It would have been better to stick to given record of governmental corruption on both sides of the isle.

I will not be buying another book from this author.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

david

3/08/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Decent, but long-winded, preachy torwards the end"

Would you listen to The Secret History of the American Empire again? Why?

Only if i really had to. It's very very long, and it's not easy to get through in my opinion. It's interesting for sure, but there's just something about it that makes it not easy to listen to

If you’ve listened to books by John Perkins before, how does this one compare?

Better than his first book. This book was read by Jonathan Davis. In John Perkins first book, he read it by himself and his voice sounded a bit raspy, as if he was losing his voice a bit.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, i'm pretty sure he did a bunch of the Star Wars audio books. They are always good, no problems there.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

nope. Not that kind of book. However if boredom or frustration is an extreme reaction, then maybe that.

Any additional comments?

It's not a particularly boring book, it could have just been my situation at the time, yet it took me several months to finish. It's just that i always seemed to have so much more interesting books that i would go for them instead of finishing this one.

It is however an interesting look at how governments strategise for pretty much taking over the world, and how they shape the minds of everyone around them to help propagate the fallacy that is modern economics which ensures that their empire can stay intact. Everything that is capitalism basically.

I can't help but feel it could be edited down to make it more concise and interesting though. It get's quite preachy towards the end, and while what John Perkins says is correct in terms of 'how can everyone help', he's had the grace of hindsight and already living an amazing life whilst climbing the corporate ladder and taking success and good fortune from it, and then he realises that it's screwing over the people of the world, yet he's already taken his benefit.

Better late than never of course, but even though its not, it comes across as a bit hypocritical at the end.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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